Perspectives on Sustainability Transitions in Agriculture

Sustainability transitions in agriculture seem inescapable. The nitrogen crisis, climate change, and diminishing biodiversity demand that governmental actors, nature conservation organizations, together with farmers, retailers, industry, academics and others develop alternatives to the dominant forms of agriculture. A protein transition, circular agriculture, nature inclusive and ecological farming are all proposed as alternatives. These alternatives also meet resistance, and sometimes include clashing worldviews. Where do the societal and agricultural challenges come from, what are the perspectives that clash, and what makes this issues so persistent?

In this course, first year students in agro-technology get acquainted in a social scientific manner with societal controversies that sustainability transitions to agriculture evoke. They will learn about past and current Dutch agricultural policies and politics in an international context by looking at power-differences and framings in these transitions. Students will engage in boundary-crossing activities and will apply these lessons by delving into the perspective of a stakeholder and practice the skills that are necessary to deliver an oral argumentation in the right context and for the right purpose.

Every week we will talk with an expert or professional and we will visit innovative food producers, and governmental actors. Throughout this course, students work on a stakeholder and framing analysis, and will hold a debate and dialogue about an agricultural challenge. The grade for this course is based on a group paper and a presentation.

• Describe the relation and interaction between developments in biosystems engineering and society in the course of history

• Analyze the perspectives and the interactions between stakeholders in current sustainability transitions in agriculture

• Analyze and apply framings of sustainability transitions in agriculture and food

• Defend a line of argumentation based on academic criteria

• Present results based on structured arguments in a clear and attractive manner

• Give constructive feedback on the argumentation of peers

• Assignment essay (80%)
• Assignment oral presentation (20%)